Sat.Aug 19, 2023 - Fri.Aug 25, 2023

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Announcing the 2023 Fall Training Conference – What is Fair and Reasonable? November 15-16

The CGP

The Coalition for Government Procurement is thrilled to announce that registration is officially open for the 2023 Fall Training Conference: “ What is Fair and Reasonable?” ! Mark your calendars for November 15-16, as we again will gather at the Fairview Park Marriott in Falls Church, Virginia to gain insights into government policies and programs that will shape the future of the procurement landscape.

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SBA Issues Interim Guidance on 8(a) Program Following Ultima Ruling

GovCon & Trade

On July 19, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee ruled in favor of Ultima Services Corporation, prompting the pause of new 8(a) applications and necessitating a reorganization of the program’s eligibility process. In the wake of the Supreme Court’s Students for Fair Admissions decision, U.S. District Court Judge Clifton Corker found the 8(a) program’s rebuttable presumption to violate the Fourteenth Amendment’s Equal Protection clause as “the presumption does not further

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Key Topics to Watch as Congress Works to Fund Next Year’s DoD Budget

Inside Government Contracts

It’s that time of year again: the House and Senate have each passed their respective version of the National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2024 (“NDAA”) ( H.R. 2670 , S. 2226 ). The NDAA is a “must pass” set of policy programs and discretionary authorizations to fund Department of Defense (“DoD”) operations. Lawmakers are currently undertaking the arduous process of reconciling these bills, while jockeying to include topics of importance in the final legislation.

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From Blocks to Bites: A Cheese-Inspired Approach to Change Management

Art of Procurement

Bear with me for a moment… Close your eyes and imagine someone handing you a large block of your favorite. The post From Blocks to Bites: A Cheese-Inspired Approach to Change Management appeared first on Art of Procurement.

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How to Create a Blueprint for Fleet Resilience

Speaker: Jeff Dickinson - President and CEO of Railgistixs Transport, Supply Chain and Logistics Thought Leader

Despite the ongoing transformation of the supply chain and logistics landscape, the steadfast importance of carrier safety remains a core principle. From prioritizing preventative maintenance to optimizing fleet utilization, the fundamentals persist. If you’re overlooking and neglecting essential safety precautions today, this could result in expensive repairs and potential safety hazards in the future. 🚧 Join Jeff Dickinson for a conversation on how to mitigate risk, enforce compliance,

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Webinar: Opening Borders – Access2Procurement

Public Procurement Intl

CLICK HERE FOR PROGRAM INFORMATION

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GSA Issues Multiple Award Schedule Solicitation Refresh 16: What It Means for Joint Ventures, Good and Bad

Government Contract Insights

On May 19, 2023, the General Services Administration (GSA) issued Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) solicitation refresh 16, which introduced a formal offer process for joint ventures.

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More Trending

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The Easiest Way to Track Competitor Contracts

GovTribe

Winning federal contracts can be an incredibly competitive game — but there’s a trick that can keep you one step ahead of your competitors. That trick is GovTribe’s Competitor Radar function.

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What Can You Expect at DAFITC 2023?

FedTech Magazine

Digital transformation will be on the minds of the airmen, guardians and contractors attending this year’s Department of the Air Force Information Technology and Cyberpower Education & Training Event. The three-day conference, which begins Monday in Montgomery, Ala., drew more than 4,000 people in 2022, its first in-person gathering in two years. Organizers expect a similar attendance this year.

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Qualify for Wayfair’s Shop Sustainably Program

The Softly Spark

Contributing Author: Anushka Musinipally Wayfair’s Shop Sustainably program presents an opportunity to showcase sustainable home goods products to eco-conscious consumers, increasing the chances that they will be viewed by customers. This initiative significantly enhances the visibility of these products, thereby boosting the likelihood of attracting customer attention.

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CABEI issues public tender for the Feasibility Study and Final Design for the Integrated Solid Waste Management System of Guatemala City.

BLP

On August 17, 2023, CABEI issued public tender notice number 038/2023, entitled “Preparation of the Feasibility Study and Final Design for the Integrated Solid Waste Management System of Guatemala City.” Purpose of the public tender: CABEI requires hiring a specialized company to prepare the Feasibility Study and Final Design for the Integrated Solid Waste Management System of Guatemala City.

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[Pod] Procurement 6 – August 25th, 2023

Art of Procurement

Procurement 6 is a short podcast from Art of Procurement that publishes in the Art of Procurement feed every Friday. The post [Pod] Procurement 6 – August 25th, 2023 appeared first on Art of Procurement.

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Shift Your Security Approach

GovLoop

Identity security (also known as identity governance and identity management) protects against the cyber threats associated with providing technology access to a diverse workforce. What are some of the key characteristics of an effective approach to identity security? Centralized identity management: Agencies need a strong understanding of users’ responsibilities and authorities.

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What is Strategic Sourcing and Why is it Important?

Oxford College of Procurement and Supply

Strategic sourcing is a contemporary approach to supply chain management. It formalises the gathering, analysis and application of information to assist companies in aligning their purchasing strategy with their goals and securing the best possible value. In this post, we explain what strategic sourcing is, why it is important and how it can be implemented.

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Joshua Duvall Quoted by Law360 on Federal Court Decision Impacting the SBA 8(a) Program

Discussions & Clarifications

Joshua Duvall was quoted by Law360 in its article "SBA Small Biz Program Changes Likely To Limit Participation." In July, U.S. District Judge Clifton L. Corker (E.D. Tennessee) held in Ultima Servs. Corp. v. U.S. Dep't of Agric. that the "rebuttable presumption" of social disadvantage under SBA's 8(a) program regulations violated a plaintiff's Fifth Amendment right to equal protection under the U.S.

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Who is to blame for Yellow’s demise?

Art of Procurement

On July 30th, 2023, Yellow announced that they would cease operations after 99 years and declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy just. The post Who is to blame for Yellow’s demise? appeared first on Art of Procurement.

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Machine Learning vs. Artificial Intelligence: What's the Difference?

Extract Systems

In the realm of technology, buzzwords often dominate conversations, and two that frequently make an appearance are Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML). These terms are sometimes used interchangeably, yet they represent distinct concepts that have their own roles, applications, and future potential. In this blog, we'll unravel the intricate differences between AI and ML, explore their applications, and consider the impact they're set to have on our world.

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3 Strategies to Improve CX When You’re Not a Manager

GovLoop

Customer experience (CX) plans typically come from the top down, but by their very nature, they should encourage employees at all levels to contribute. In fact, that should be a goal of the White House, Office of Personnel Management and the agency CX community, according to a December 2022 report by the Partnership for Public Service. They “should further professionalize the customer experience career field and embed customer focus into other occupations, to include establishing career paths th

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How GovTribe AI Recommends Contract Opportunities

GovTribe

The key to staying ahead in the competitive federal contracting space is going after the right contract opportunities — and GovTribe utilizes AI to help you do that.

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[Pod] An Expert’s Guide to Procurement Change Management

Art of Procurement

“Yes, change is hard to manage and process at any level which is why I always recommend that you give. The post [Pod] An Expert’s Guide to Procurement Change Management appeared first on Art of Procurement.

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3 Tips to Reduce False Claims Act Exposure in the Wake of United States ex rel. Schutte v. SuperValu, Inc.

Government Contracts Navigator

Justin A. Chiarodo, Jennifer A. Short, Stephanie M. Harden, Samarth Barot, and Oliver E. Jury ● 2023 is shaping up to be a major year in False Claims Act (“FCA”) practice, with the Supreme Court weighing in on both FCA scienter (in SuperValu) and the reach of the government’s dismissal authority (in Polansky), and the government … Continue reading "3 Tips to Reduce False Claims Act Exposure in the Wake of United States ex rel.

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Prepare Against Being a Prime Target

GovLoop

Here are a few numbers for your agency to consider when it comes to ransomware: 330 individual ransomware attacks on government organizations took place between 2018 and October 2022. $5 million was the total payments made in 27 of these 72 cases (though entities are more likely to disclose that they haven’t paid the ransom than if they have). 17 days was the average downtime government organizations lost, varying from six days in 2022 to over 20 days in 2018.

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Current Participants in the SBA 8(a) Program – Be on the Lookout for Outreach on Social Disadvantage

Government Contracts Legal Forum

The Small Business Administration has begun outreach to current participants in its 8(a) Business Development Program regarding the impact of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee’s July 19, 2023 decision enjoining SBA from applying a rebuttable presumption of social disadvantage to individuals of certain racial and ethnic groups.

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SBA Extends Moratorium on Bona Fide Office Requirements for 8(a) Construction Contracts

Holland & Knight: Government Contracts

Small Business Administration (SBA) announced that it is extending its moratorium on bona fide office requirements for construction contracts under its 8(a) Business Development Program.

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10 Key Takeaways: Biden Administration Sets the Stage for Regulation of U.S. Investments in China

Government Contracts Navigator

Anthony Rapa, George T. Boggs, and Alan G. Kashdan ● President Biden recently issued an executive order (“EO”) establishing a framework to regulate certain U.S. investments with a nexus to China, taking initial steps towards what eventually could be unprecedented regulation of outbound U.S. investment. Specifically, the order directs the U.S. Department of the Treasury (“Treasury”) to issue … Continue reading "10 Key Takeaways: Biden Administration Sets the Stage for Regulation of U.S.

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Is There a Phish on Your Line?

GovLoop

Did you know that there was a 625% increase in voice phishing (vishing), SMS phishing (smishing) and QR code phishing (quishing) that took place in the second quarter of 2022? This is in part because of the widespread use of mobile devices in the workplace, whether agency-issued or employee-owned, which has caused a spike in mobile threats. If any of these attacks are successful to your agency, it could cost an estimated $4 million to your organization (based on an agency of at least 5,000 emplo

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DAFTIC 2023

FedTech Magazine

Join FedTech as we cover DAFITC 2023. Check here for our event coverage.

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SBA Releases Interim Guidance on 8(a) Program in Light of Ultima Decision

Holland & Knight: Government Contracts

The SBA has issued a press release and interim guidance of the 8(a) Business Development Program following the court's ruling in Ultima Services Corp. v. Department of Agriculture.

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SBA Releases Interim Guidance on 8(a) Program in Light of Ultima Decision

WIFCON: Government Contracts

Robert K. Tompkins, Leila S. George-Wheeler, Hillary J. Freund, Kelsey M.

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Building CX on the Front Lines

GovLoop

Government workers who interact directly with the public give customers their first impression of not only that transaction, but the agency as a whole. To make that impression a good one, frontline workers must have the right support. And it comes in ways that aren’t always obvious. Training Ensure that employees at all levels have a common baseline definition of CX, and then break out what that means for their job.

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July 2023 Developments Under President Biden’s Cybersecurity Executive Order and National Cybersecurity Strategy

Inside Government Contracts

This is the twenty-seventh in a series of Covington blogs on implementation of Executive Order 14028, “Improving the Nation’s Cybersecurity,” issued by President Biden on May 12, 2021 (the “Cyber EO”). The first blog summarized the Cyber EO’s key provisions and timelines, and the subsequent blogs described the actions taken by various government agencies to implement the Cyber EO from June 2021 through June 2023.

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Why Federal Agencies Should Consider IT Environment Assessments Ahead of FY2024

FedTech Magazine

When you’re adding onto your house, it’s critical that you and your contractors ensure the new second story blends with the original build. Can your current electrical service handle the additional load? Will your floor joists support the weight of the new structure? You’d also have to calculate the cost of the items needed to build the addition and determine what you can afford that still works in the space.

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SBA Extends Moratorium on Bona Fide Office Requirements for 8(a) Construction Contracts

WIFCON: Government Contracts

Robert K. Tompkins, Gregory H. Koger, Hillary J. Freund, Kelsey M.

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Making AI Work for Government

GovLoop

Artificial intelligence (AI) holds both promise and risk for government users, according to Paul Smith, Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer of Ad Hoc, a digital services company. “Government is a special environment when it comes to technology,” Smith said. “Things like security and privacy come to the fore. But there’s an opportunity here for a big transformative moment, to use AI and ML to make government services much, much more accessible to people, and improve the user experience as wel

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Continuous Innovation Is the Goal of Dell’s Zero-Trust Efforts

FedTech Magazine

Dell’s Zero Trust Center of Excellence is working with the Department of Defense to bring its robust model for a zero-trust security architecture to other agencies. The Zero Trust CoE will deliver a repeatable blueprint of the DOD architecture to provide organizations with a quicker path to zero-trust adoption while easing the integration and orchestration burden for private and public sector entities.

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The National Cybersecurity Strategy Requires More Thoughtful Spending from Agencies

FedTech Magazine

Federal agencies received a new round of marching orders this summer regarding the shoring up of their cybersecurity defenses. The Office of Management and Budget released a June memo outlining cyber investment priorities to guide agencies’ fiscal 2025 budget submissions. In July, the White House announced its National Cybersecurity Strategy Implementation Plan (NCSIP), which instructs agencies how best to implement the National Cybersecurity Strategy (NCS).

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